Unfortunately this was not the book for me. I usually don't post full reviews below 3 stars to my blog but as I received this as an eARC I have written one.

All that went through my head during this was WHERE THE HELL WERE THE PARENTS?
The current world situation has made this point double. If a child fell ill at school irregardless of what happened I doubt any parent would just accept it and move on especially if they went for hearing from them regularly to nothing. I know mine would kick the door down and I am an adult. This was compounded by the fact that the whole premise just read a bit wooley and hand wavy. No one seemed to question it the situation was just accepted. Nothing puts me off a book faster it just forgetting that science exists and that scientists are living, caring, principled people (don't get me started on how the members of the CDC are portrayed in this book - i could have a spoiler filled rant just on that very small portion).

Those glaringly big plot issues aside this did start out really interesting, the only reason I kept reading is I was sure it would all have an awesome explanation that would pay off. I was disappointed. Again it was hand wavy and took up half a sentence. The queer romance subplot that was promised by all the hype just wasn't, at least i didn't find it. The writing style itself also really vague and hollow - almost monotone. I get that it is told from the perspective of people who are not being fed the full picture but there are many other books that feed the reader information while keeping the mystery alive, letting the reader seek out the answers with the characters. This just didn't, it was very blah..

I wish this was better but this book was blah.. i didn't detest it just didn't entertain me

Set in a secluded boarding school for girls in the state of Maine, we follow three girls as they attempt to survive in an everchanging world, where every single one of them has been affected by a mysterious pathogen. No one knows where it came from, what causes it, or even how to treat it. Wilder Girls definitely felt like a necessary read considering the current climate.

This YA debut by author Rory Power is bold, enigmatic and I just couldn't put it down. Split into multiple POVs, this book took me a few chapters to adjust, but once I did, I stopped noticing the change in narrator, as the various narratives intertwined fleshing out the central plot.

I love the idea behind the tox that changed people's genetic makeup, altering them physically in various different ways, such as Hetty's eye, Reese's hand, and Byatt's second skeleton. Raxter gave me more of a stately manor home vibes than that of a traditional boarding school with it having multiple wings and offsite staff.

As much as Hetty was the central character, my favourite was Reese, in her sullen, howl and the wind character. The tox almost seemed to reflect that different characters' personalities, and this becomes more pronounced as the story progresses.

Wilder Girls was a fantastic book, and I highly recommend it. Massive thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy, in exchange for my honest review.

‘Wilder Girls’ is a Young Adult sci fi novel that’s not set in a dystopian future. It also doesn’t feature a heroine who has to choose between boys who are both into her before saving the world. Instead it’s an altogether darker work, a bit like a cross between ‘The Andromeda Strain’ and ‘Lord of the Flies’, with a mostly female cast and an LGBTQ+ slant. It’s imaginative, enjoyably gruesome and emotionally engaging. I liked it a lot.
The story is set on a remote island, where the pupils and staff of a girl’s school have been infected with a mysterious condition (known as Tox) which mutates and gradually destroys their bodies, killing the adults first. The island is in quarantine, and the remaining girls shelter in the school buildings from the increasingly hostile wildlife of the island. The book focuses on two of the pupils, Hetty and Byatt as they fight to survive and to unravel the mystery of what’s happening to them.
What surprised and impressed me most about the book was how visceral and gory it is. Whilst it is marketed as sci fi (and I would classify it as such), it’s extremely (and disgustingly) graphic at times. This is a YA novel, so don’t expect Jack Ketchum levels of violence and depravity, but the ravages of Tox on its victims are described in detail. The violence the characters inflict upon each other, and themselves, is also relayed with sickening effectiveness. The impact of the horror elements is heightened by the fact that the characters are sympathetic and well written. I really felt for them, especially Byatt, who endures a particularly nightmarish series of events.
The island and its animal inhabitants play as important a role as the human characters, presenting a threatening environment that brings as much peril as the disease. It’s this combination of different dangers and likeable characters that ensures ‘Wilder Girls’ is consistently gripping and tense. I raced through it in less than a day (it was, ironically, a quarantine read) and really enjoyed it. The second half doesn’t quite have the impact of the first, falling back on some familiar plot devices once the scene has been set, but it’s still a great read overall. I look forward to reading what Rory Power writes next.

I loved Wilder Girls by Rory Power! This is a young adult and part fantasy type novel. The writing style is eloquent and easy to read. The plot is unique and I haven't come across much like it before. Theres a young adult horror type feel to some of the actions and descriptions which I enjoyed as it was different. The ending could have played out a little bit longer but overall I was satisfied with the ending. There were some well written and interesting war and battle scenes here which were great. I am excited to see what Rory Power brings out next.

I've been reading this book for the past 2-3 months and today I decided that it had to end, so I pushed through and I was pleasantly surprised that it got more interesting.

I really loved the premise (and the cover), however I really struggled to connect with any of the characters and at least the first 60% was just a drag. The pacing was way too slow, I guess in an attempt to show us the world and the character relationships, but for me it just didn't work.

It did give my Annihalation vibes with the Tox flare-ups, but I feel that it lacked direction and purpose to make it work.

Overall a decent read.

This book came highly recommended by many however I didn't quite enjoy it as much as I thought i would.
Following a group of girls on an island struggling the effects of a virus causing horrific mutations. I enjoyed the dual perspective and the characters, as well as the setting and the mystery of what was really going on.
However, I didn't feel any real connection to the characters which turned the reading experience into a chore.
I thought the ambiguous ended fitted perfectly with the story and the style of the story.

Wow. I tore through this book in less than 24 hours. The setting, the characters, the impending sense of doom, the girls clinging to humanity on that little island by their ragged nails. An unnerving, chilling read that gripped me from start to finish. Easily one of the best books I’ve read in the last couple of years.

5* doesn’t seem enough!

I really enjoyed this! I'll be sure to read more books by the author in the future!

One of my favourite things of this novel is the mystery aspect, and how it always kept me guessing. The fact that it did not conform to anything I have ever read before was something that kept me coming back for more.

This book was dark, atmospheric, and had gore turned up to eleven. There's a spooky island, mutated girls turned slightly feral, and a government conspiracy.

It was an utterly addictive read, that had me turning pages at breakneck speed to discover the truth and find out what was going on. The characters are compelling and keep the story going, even if they aren't always likeable. Hetty may be the protagonist, but she is by no means a hero.

As much as I loved this book, the ending let me down. It was ambiguous and left just about every single story thread in a loose end. I really hope there's a sequel, because I need my answers.

This is a really dark book, with some scary and traumatic themes. It's not for the faint of heart, but if you want a horror story you can really get your teeth into, this is it. If it weren't for the ending I would've given this five stars. As it stands, I'll be sat here waiting for a sequel to come along and redeem it.

This book is set at a residential school based on an island off the coast of america. Raxter School is for girls and has been put under quarantine due to the outbreak of an unusual condition. Since the arrival of the Tox, Hetty's life has been turbulent to say the least, as she see's her fellow classmates, suffer and vanish!

The disease takes it time to spread, first with the death of the teachers then the students begin to fall one by one, the Tox affecting them all differently turning their bodies into unusual and foreign objects.

Now cut off from access to the rest of the world and nobody knowing who is fully aware of what is going on at the island, the girls are left to survive for themselves on the island they now call home! They dare not go beyond the boundary fence as the contents of the woods themselves are infected, wild and dangerous. But when Hetty's friend goes missing she seeks to go beyond the boundary and face the horror she faces.

This book is aimed at a YA audience and therefore I was uncertain how I would feel about reading this book however, it was gruesomely dark sometimes to the point where even I felt it went a tad too far. It has been compared to Lord of the Flies however, there really was no direct comparison in my opinion.

This book did also touch on LGBTQ+ relationships and I felt this was the most compelling factor of the whole story, this and that the book relied solely on what seemed like very strong and independent female characters, Hetty's relationship with Byatt and with Reese showed a tenderness and gentle self-doubt that softened the harsh reality of the outside environment with Hetty's character.

As with the location of the story and the characters within the Maine based school, the overall feeling of wildness, an increasing level of dread and the final cliffhanger conclusion has meant I gave it a 3 stars.

I would like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to review this title.

So this popped up on NetGalley, and I was extremely surprised – given that I had heard people talk about ARCs for Wilder Girls ages ago, and thought it had already been released a while ago. I wasn’t going to pass up the chance to read this though, given all the good buzz I had heard about it. I don’t think I need to explain the premise of this book much – secluded school on an island quarantined due to an disease that cause strange and sometimes deadly mutations in the girls attending. I really enjoyed this read. It’s been described as Lord of the Flies meets Annihilation, and I definitely see where they’re coming from. Even though I’ve not read Annihilation, I’ve seen the movie and some of the body horror and general feeling of terror in regards to the wildlife and the island itself are definitely very similar. I could have done with slightly more explanation and reveals, but that’s more of a personal choice – I’m not always a fan of open-ended stories!

Raxter, an all girl school, has been under quarantine after an outbreak of the Tox. It began slow, creeping through the whole area and picking off teachers and students one by one.

Hetty and her peers are taken, with their bodies shifting in strange ways. They're cut off from the world and they won't broach the perimeter around them, the world beyond dangerous in it's own way.

As Byatt goes missing, caution isn't as important as finding her, and the horror story they're living isn't exactly what it seems.

A feminist horror in all its gore and unpleasantness, physical and psychological. Unsettling and basically brilliant.

Thank you to Net Galley and the Publishers for allowing me to read the proof in return for a review.

I really enjoyed this book - the writing was atmospheric and suitably creepy. The gore and violence was delivered in a way that didn’t make me feel nauseous which I liked. Often I find body horror written to make the reader feel sick rather than it being integral to the story, but not in this case.

I will say that I would have liked a before and after sort of dynamic so we could see just how far the girls had fallen into the chaotic violent way they behaved because they were alone and changing in gruesome ways.

Unlike many others I liked the abrupt ending and get it was the right decision for the book.

Eighteen months after a plague called The Tox infected Raxter School for Girls there are only two adults left. The Tox causes terrifying mutations, some have scales on a limb instead of skin, some have lost an eye & left with something else, some have things growing from various parts of their bodies. The mutations haven't just affected humans. The flora & fauna of the island have also mutated & it is not safe outside the school grounds. The story revolves round Hetty, Byatt & Reese. Byatt is Hetty's best friend & when she goes missing she is determined to find her. Reese goes along with the rescue.

This is a strange book to review. There were many things that drew me too it, but maybe I no longer enjoy books with that much of the horror elements & so although I battled through to the end I was just glad it was done with!

Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book. I'm sure it will be a great read for those who really enjoy this genre.

I’m afraid this one just didn’t captivate me. I found it hard to keep going and felt the ending , lacking definite answers, was a disappointment. It has had many positive reviews so I’m sure this is just down to personal preference.

Thank you to Netgalley, Rory Power and Macmillan children's books for my arc of Wilder Girls in exchange for an honest review. 
Title: Wilder Girls 
Author: Rory Power
Publisher: Macmillan's Children's Books
Publication date: 9th July 2019
Format read: Ebook
Genre: Sci Fi / horror
Star rating: 🌟🌟
Synopsis: It's been 18 months since the girls who attend a private boarding school on Raxter island near Maine, we're put under quarantine. 18 months since a deadly virus named 'the Tox' took over causing weird mutations and even death among the islands inhabitants be they human, animal or plant. Cut off from the world outside, the girls are trying to survive in a world where even the forest itself is dangerous. Patiently waiting for the cure they were promised. By when Hetty's friend Byatt goes missing she must find her, at all costs and those costs will bring about catastrophic events.

I thought the writing style of this book was really good, it made it fast paced and actually I enjoyed 90% of the book. Unfortunately, the ending ruined it for me. It was left far too open with not even a tenuous answer to anything that had happened in the story.
The idea of a boarding school infected with a virus which caused weird injuries and mutations was interesting, the fact they were cut off from the rest of the world and kept in 'quarantine' etc. My expectations were really to get answers to what was going on, what would cause such mutations and why? Would a cure be found, why was there so little in the way of supplies coming in? Had those questions been answered at any time I would have felt more satisfaction and given this book an easy 5*. Open endings are ok if at least some stuff gets answered but this left things completely open, unsatisfactory and unanswered.

Wilder Girls is about a group of school girls who are quarantined on a remote island where their boarding school is. They have been in quarantine for 18 months after a dangerous disease (Tox) has started to take hold. In this book we follow the main character Hetty and her friends, as they try to find out where their friend Byatt has been taken.
The synopsis of this book had me intrigued and then when I saw the reviews from those who had the opportunity to read it before it arrived in the UK, I had to read it.

After a minor struggle to get into this book, I was really got into it and I almost read 40% of this book in one sitting. This was definitely a wild read. I found the whole concept of the TOX interesting. However, there was one little part in the plot where I wish more details were given and that was actually to do with the Tux. I felt as a reader we weren’t given enough details on it. It would have been nice to know a little more about how it actually came about to affect the girls. Especially as the book starts with the disease having already been established for 18 months.

Now I know many have described the writing style in this book to be poetic, but I couldn’t see where they got that from. I personally felt it was a little simplistic is places. Saying that my favourite parts of the writing were the gore descriptions. They were great I love books with gore details especially when they are categorised under the horror genre.

Although there were some interesting characters in this book I didn’t really find myself connecting with any of them. Saying that Power’s has done a great job in capturing the characteristics of the young girls in this book. It’s what you would expect from a group of teenage girls.

Now although I enjoyed the majority of the book the ending was SO disappointing. I was expecting so much more from it. The ending has left me with way too many questions, and I really hope that what I thought was a standalone has a sequel coming out because I need to know how it ends!!! (Not going to go into details as it would be a major spoiler for the whole book).

Overall I would say that even with the few issues and disappointing ending this was a pretty good read. This is definitely one of those books you’ll either like or you won’t. I liked and I would recommend to a select few.

I liked the concept of this book, and the fact that it centred on young women, but I found that the plot somewhat lagged. I also didn't like the open ending, it felt like it was going to lead into a sequel which is not really what I want from a standalone book, I would have preferred it if the ending was more definite.

I read Wilder Girls fast, it is immediately involving, visceral and occasionally horrific but highly engaging and a really clever central premise.

A group of girls and their teachers are quarantined away- the Tox changes them in increasingly nasty ways- sometimes they disappear for treatment never to return. Meanwhile out in the woods and the surrounding area something stirs…

This is a brilliant YA horror tale, a boarding school story on acid…The characters pop (sometimes literally) and Rory Power writes with a vividly immersive prose and creates a group dynamic you really care about. The story twists and turns towards an emotionally reaching conclusion.

Overall a really great read. Recommended.

Wilder Girls follows Hetty and her friends Byatt and Reese on Raxter Island, 18 months into being quarantined in their all girls school after the appearance of the 'Tox', which has infected them all. The tox has changed them all in different ways, and continues to attack their bodies, leaving them either dead or changed forever. The tox has affected the whole island, making beyond the fence unsafe and the forest and its inhabitants wild, meaning the girls have to adapt and learn to protect their home.

First of all, I think it’s important to point out that if you don’t like body horror, this is not the book for you, some of the descriptions get pretty graphic. It’s not for no reason though, it fits the story and backs up just how high the stakes are in this story.

The main theme of this book though is friendship. I think every type of friendship is represented in this book, and by no means are all of the girls best friends. The book follows the friendship between the 3 main girls, particularly through Hetty's POV, and shows the lengths you go to for the people you love. There is also a bit of romance, but with everything else going on it’s understandably not a major plot point, but perhaps this will be explored more if there’s a sequel.

I’ve seen a lot of comments about the ending, and I can see their point - it’s left extremely open ended, there are no answers and in fact I think I had more questions than i did at the beginning of the book, but it works. I don’t think this needs a sequel, but I’d be interested to see where the story goes if it does happen.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.